HTC One SV LTE review

Is the mid-range, 4G-enabled One SV a bargain for business users on the move?

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One of the best mid-range 4G handsets around - the One SV LTE is a good option if high-speed internet is what you want. However, we'd hold off on buying a 4G device until the other networks make the service available as that's when pricing will get competitive.

The HTC One SV LTE is an entry level 4G device offering meaty specs at a reasonable price. The device comes complete with dual-cores, expandable memory and high-speed internet capabilities via the EE network. But can it really tempt users away from the iPhone and Galaxy S ranges?

The HTC One SV LTE is likely to be the last handset launched before the firm’s 2013 lineup is introduced at MWC at the end of February. Although the One SV LTE fits in towards the bottom of the One series ladder, it is a tempting proposition for those looking for high-speed internet.

Low-cost LTE?

The HTC One SV LTE is one of the cheapest phone available with 4G, along with the Nokia Lumia 820 and Huawei Ascend P1 LTE. But you’re still going to have £36 per month for the privilege of using the 4G spectrum, and that’s with a paltry 500MB data allowance.

To put it in perspective, 500MB of data on 4G would last you little over five minutes if you were streaming HD content, let alone a month.

In our time with the HTC One SV, we uploaded files to FTP servers through Android’s AndFTP application. We recorded and shared videos to YouTube and enjoyed video conferencing and streaming video, with noticeably less lag than our 3G handset.

In just over a week, we used 900MB of data, including usage via tethering. For most business users, a tariff between 1GB - 3GB data allowance should really suffice, and will cost between £41 and £46 per month. If you’re concerned 3GB won’t be enough, for £51 you can opt for the 5GB package - a cost that may well be justified if presenting streaming videos and online documents is integral to your industry.

While we can attest to the 4G service being excellent in central London, we’re hard pressed to recommend a One SV unless you absolutely require high-speed internet and plan to use it instead of fixed-line broadband.

The design

Despite the mid-range price, the HTC One SV is a good looking phone, especially from the back. The matte back cover coupled with the phone’s tapered sides make sure it sits well in the hand, looks good and feels rich to the touch.

The front feels less premium thanks to its high gloss and chunky curves, not to mention a questionable in-call speaker grille. The faux metal matte banding around the sides also dampens the alluring back panel’s appeal. In saying all that though, given the HTC One SV LTE’s mid-range position, you could do a lot worse.

That sentiment especially applies to the screen. Colours pop out of the 4.3-inch SLCD 2 panel. HTC is great when it comes to screen tech, and for anyone who needs outdoor viewability, the One SV LTE impresses. While quality is excellent, the display does have one shortcoming: its WVGA resolution. Not being the sharpest screen out there lets down the One SV when reading documents or browsing text heavy web pages.